The Horn Farm Center’s kitchen classes take place in our fully-restored 19th century Summer Kitchen, certified and registered by the PA Department of Agriculture and equipped for hands-on cooking and learning experiences. The original purpose of this kitchen facility, adjacent to the farmhouse, was to maintain comfortable temperatures and reduce the fear of fire within the farmhouse living quarters. To keep the house cool in warm months, the summer kitchen was used for the preparation and processing of foods. In the cold months, it was used for the storage of fruits and vegetables.

The building’s most unique feature is its original wood-fired Squirrel Tail oven built in PA German-style, which has historically been the centerpiece of bread-baking workshops. Its name comes from a distinctive characteristic: a duct for fire smoke that starts at the back of the oven and rises over the top, mimicking the tail of a squirrel curled over their back. Many classes have seen the Squirrel Tail Oven in operation, and community members over the years have enjoyed cookies, dessert dumplings, pizza, vegetables, breads, and more baked in its hearth.